AVS REMEMBER FORMER TEAMMATES DENVER-The Colorado Avalanche gathered with heavy hearts Friday as they began training camp more than a week after the plane crash in Russia that claimed the lives of two of their former teammates.Ruslan Salei and Karlis Skrastins were among the 37 players, coaches and staff of Russia's Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey club who died when their jet crashed on the way to their first game of the season.Colorado forward Paul Stastny was roommates with Skrastins for several seasons.The tragedy hit close to home for new Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, who played in the Yaroslavl system before joining the Washington Capitals.The Avalanche will honour Salei and Skrastins when they open the season Oct. 8 against the Detroit Red Wings.ASSOCIATED PRESS

by Toronto Star9/16/2011 6:52:17 PM

No class until 3pm. I could do some work on assignments now, but all this #Leafs media stuff is rather distracting...And I'm loving it.

Without question, the Leafs are glad a day of physicals has passed. One exercise in particular, 15-minutes on the bike called Vo2 Max, was the worst of all. Here's what some Leafs said afterward.

Luke Schenn: “I dread it (the Vo2) every year. It's something you probably shouldn't overthink and sweat. You put the workin in the summer, and you should be prepared. This is the worst. It's weird. Your mouth gets all dry. You're breathing through a tube. They plug your nose. You're on there for 15 minutes with your feet taped to the pedals. They keep adding weight on every minute. You've got to keep your RPMs up, keep the pace up. It's definitely not fun.”

Colby Armstrong: “I had Dion yelling in my ear, that always helps. The Vo2 was the worst. I was sweating. I wanted to quit eight times. But i didn't throw up. That's good, right?”

Dion Phaneuf: “It's good that it's done. The Vo2 is never fun when you got something in your mouth and you're riding a bike.”

Joffrey Lupul: “You have this tube in your mouth. They threw me off right at the start because I usually listen to my I-pod when I go, and they told me I wasn't allowed to listen to it. I was a little rattled there.”

Keith Aulie: “The Vo2 involves the most effort. It's the longest and makes you sweat pretty good. Everything else isn't too bad for me. The Vo2 is the one that hurts. I don't think I've ever thrown up from exercising, but I feel like it right now.”

Cody Franson: “I didn't throw up. But know a couple of guys did.”

Tim Connolly: “Glad it's over. It's not a very fun test. They put the tube in your mouth, they plug your nose. It gets a little claustrophobic in there. Then they push you beyond your limits. It's a tough test. I guess it shows them some type of data, I'm not sure what.”

by Kevin McGran9/16/2011 8:17:50 PM

Send us your best Leafs rap. With goalie/rapper Mark (In Da Park) Owuya on the Leafs’ roster, thestar.com is asking Leafs fans to send in their best rap about the team, in written, audio or video form. bit.ly

by Toronto Star9/16/2011 8:29:04 PM

KADRI IN A COMFORT ZONE By Mark Zwolinski Sports ReporterNazem Kadri believes he's in a better "comfort zone" in Leafs camp compared to the last two seasons where he became a meteoric star, with a flashy-great camp two years ago, and a disappointing one last year."My comfort zone is a lot better this year," Kadri said. "I'm more comfortable having been here for two of these (training camps). I know these jobs are earned, not given, and I'm ready for camp, ready to earn a job."Kadri, as outlined by both coach Ron Wilson and GM Brian Burke, will be in a battle for a wing spot on the third line with Tyler Bozak and Colby Armstrong.Top rated rookies Joe Colborne and Matt Frattin are considered challengers for that job, while injured veteran Matt Lombardi (concussion), will also get a strong look if he can return to full form during training camp.Kadri realizes he's in a fight for a job. After two years where he was almost overwhelmed with media attention, and the resulting pressure of being billed as a budding super star, Kadri's story line in camp has settled into the reality of a job hunt for third-line work."My first camp I did well, my second camp I didn't," Kadri said matter of factly."I think last year I focused too much on putting on weight and I slowed down a bit, and I'm not that kind of player. I'm four or five pounds lighter now and I think I'm quicker."Kadri said he spent the summer off season working on quickness and agility training. While he worked strength as well, he spent time at the track, performing running drills through rope ladders and around cones."I know that I feel I'm in the best possible shape now," he said. "I have to prove myself and that's why I worked hard in the summer. I came in lighter and I'm expected to battle for a job, and so is everyone else."Kadri must also continue to improve on his play at both ends of the ice. He was returned to the Marlies last season amidst concern by Leafs management with his tendencies to turn the puck over in the offensive zone, and periodic failures to cover his own zone effectively."To show he's physically strong enough and mentally tough enough to stay in the NHL," Leafs coach Ron Wilson said about Kadri when asked what the 20-year-old must show in camp."He showed a lot of improvement last year in getting pucks out of his zone and his skating game up ice. He was getting points when he simplified his game, and earlier, when things were complicated, the wasn't getting those points. "Kadri faced arguably as much media attention as any Leaf the past two seasons, and now seems to have learned from that experience as well."I don't mind the attention," he said."You'd rather have more diehard fans who know what's going on than be in a situation like in Atlanta (team moved to Winnipeg after years of failing attendance and fan interest).

by Toronto Star9/16/2011 8:39:42 PM

This morning, the Leafs will debut a credit-card sized patch on the chest of the team’s practice jersey advertising the Purolator brand. bit.lyPhoto Gallery: What others sports are doing with jersey sponsors photogallery.thestar.com

by Toronto Star9/17/2011 2:16:24 PM

Maple Leafs training camp opened with a bang Friday morning with news that defenceman Luke Schenn had agreed to a 5-year, $18-million deal. bit.ly

by Toronto Star9/17/2011 2:16:38 PM

On Friday, 70 Leaf hopefuls will turn up for their physicals; some, like Colby Armstrong, are pretty sure they throw up afterwards. bit.ly

The Leafs are flying along in their first scrimmage of the training camp, although goalie Mark Owuya is having his troubles. The rookie Swede goalie has allowed five goals, and most of them can be catagorized as soft. It's only scrimmage, mind you, and the kid will have plenty of chance to shine. It's interesting to see the pace of an NHL level session; the top line with Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lopul, and Tim Connolly, is going up against the second line of Mikhail Grabovski, Nik Kulemin, and Clark MacArthur. Luke Schenn and John Michael Liles are paired on D; last year's standby of Dion Phaneuf and Keith Aulie look good. All around the ice management watches - Cliff Fletcher and goalie coach Francois Allaire on the side; coach Ron Wilson, and assistant GM's Dave Nonis and Claude Loiselle (who handled the Luke Schenn contract) perched above the ice.Also in attendance is Rick Dudley, the former Atlanta Thrashers GM who was hired to the Leafs the moment the Thrashers loaded the trucks and headed for Winnipeg. Dudley was an advisor initially, but is now wearing the title of Director of Player Personel. Dave Poulin, who had that title, is now VP of hockey operations.

by Toronto Star9/17/2011 2:58:44 PM

second srimmage under way - same blue team (kessel, phaneuf, lopul, etc) against a white team with gunnarson, orr, kadri, bozak ...

From Mark Zwolinski Just spoke with Rick Dudley, the Leafs director of player personell. A great fit for Leafs: he arrived here in the summer after his post as GM with the Thrashers dried up with Atlanta's move to Winnipeg. A Toronto native, Dudley has had four NHL GM posts, and was a huge fan of the Leafs as a boy when the Buds won the Stanley Cup in 1967. Dudley has two brothers, John and Mike, who live in Sioux Lookout and Colborne, Ontario, respectively. John served on the Royal Commission for Aboriginal People while Mike ran a GE plant in Belleville. Rick is the youngest of the three, and the Leafs picked up a winner when they landed him from the Thrashers.

by Toronto Star9/17/2011 4:10:35 PM

that's a wrap, as far as scrrimmages go - orr's goal stands up as the winner in the third game. Best part of all, the pace is quick

Of note from the first day of scrimmages:John Michael Liles is a great skater, an above average D-man when it comes to moving the puck. He'll fill in nicely on the powerplay and with the top lines with Tomas Kaberle gone (and the only true puck moving defenseman the Leafs had). Liles, though, won't compare himself to Kaberle in that situation. "Tomas Kaberle is a great player and I don't think I can compare myself to him, I have my strengths and weaknesses, and to be honest, I'm like any other player, I try and go out to be myself, so making comparisons is a bit unfare," Liles said.Four wheel, Jeep, and off road fans will like a Youtube link showing Liles off-roading in Colorado. Liles owns a nicely prepped 2006 Ruby; he also just put the finishing touches on a three year build of a 1969 Camaro RS SS - and Leafs winger Jay Rosehill also has a nice Camaro of the 69 vintage.As mentioned on Twitter, an intersting training camp battle should develop between three defenseman for the final spot on the top six D-Men that will open the season. Those three are Cody Franson, Carl Gunnarson, and Mike Komisarek. "Don't know if you can cal it that (a battle)," Wilson said. "But that's a definite decision I have to make, if everyone's healthy ... who will be in the lineup for opening night. Whoever is playing the best will be in there."Wilson also said Nazem Kadri, who looked spectacular at times in two of the three scrimages today, "brought more to the table today" than arguably any time over the past two seasons with the Leafs and Marlies. Kadri, among other things, is five pounds lighter and spent the summer working leg speed and agility.

by Toronto Star9/17/2011 5:56:23 PM

Keith Hamilton of Toronto auditioned for the judges today outside ACC with a unique rendering of our national anthem with a saw and violin bow.

by Toronto Star9/17/2011 6:40:22 PM

Less than a minute into the first scrimmage, Connolly and Kessel dazzle with a passing play, Connolly finishes nicely

As the third day of scrimmages rolls on, the Leafs look like they have a lot of things set - top three lines, top four D, goaltending, etc.

One job fight, underlined by management, was the spot on the third line wing between Nazem Kadri, Matt Frattin, and Joe Colborne (Kadri has looked great the past two days).

But there is much more at stake despite the notion the rosters is mostly set.

Check out the battle for the fourth line center job. Darryl Boyce, with his new contract, has the inside track, but Phillipe Dupuis and Mike Zigomanis will certainly be heard from. Dupuis is an interesting wild card here; he has been a solid AHL citizen in Colorado's farm system, and played 74 games with the Avs in the NHL last season (averaged nine minutes of ice time).

- Mark Zwolinski

by Toronto Star9/18/2011 3:35:00 PM

Leaf front office men Dave Poulin and Rick Dudley were impressed with his AHL game and highly recommended signing him as a free agent. The rest of the fourth line makeup is interesting too - Colton Orr has a job, and is playing on a line with Dupuis and Mitchell Heard. Heard, who played in Plymouth in the OHL last year, is holding down a spot in camp until Mike Brown returns from injury (groin strain, in about a week or so).

There's also Jay Rosehill, who is looking great in scrimmages so far. He's on a one way contract and likely makes the NHL roster in a backup role for now.

Then there's the D. Beyond the top three of Luke Schenn, Dion Phaneuf, and John Michael Liles, there's a minor, but very much real competition for job slots. Cody Franson, Carl Gunarsson, Mike Komisarek, Matt Lashoff, and Keith Aulie, are all in line for a job, but only three or four will come out of that battle.

So, lots to see and think about over the next few weeks.- Mark Zwolinski

by Toronto Star9/18/2011 3:36:59 PM

no grabovski or kulemin at scrimmage today - both are believed to be at igor korolev's funeral, which was set for this morning

The post-scrimmage dressing room was interesting. Coach Ron Wilson mentioned Phillipe Dupuis and Tyler Bozak will be in a battle as centres on the penalty kill.

That definitely placed Dupuis in the mix for the fight for the fourth line center as well (Bozak should take the third line pivot job). Dupuis was with Colorado the past three seasons. He played 12 games his first season, then eight his second year. A goal scorer in junior and the AHL, he was told to adopt a more defensive game if he wanted to stay in the NHL.

Dupuis admitted that was a blow to the ego, and that he argued about it with coaches; he came to the Avs camp last year, though, and embraced the role. The result was 74 games in the NHL. He's a free agent with Leafs, and that willingness to change his game, and the experience it brought, now gives him a real chance at a job in Toronto.

- Mark Zwolinski

by Toronto Star9/18/2011 6:55:02 PM

Darryl Boyce and Mike Zigomanis will also have a lot to say about who ends up with the fourth line job between Colton Orr and Mike Brown.

"Whoever is playing well in the exhibition games," Wilson said about what the outcome might be.

In the meantime, Zigomanis talked about becoming a vegetarian full time and how it has helped him become a better player in the NHL.

Zigomanis made the decision four years ago and essentially cooks a lot for himself - salads, kinois, tofu, and a lot of fruits and vegetables.

He also supplements frequently during the day with shakes that boost his protein and recovery, as well as spike his energy prior to a skate or workout. Zigomanis also said he has had issues with flexibility in the past, and combated that this summer with a dedication to yoga.